October is my favorite time of the year. I love the weather change. I love the fall rallies. I DON’T LOVE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IN 2020!! I went to Sturgis and had a wonderful time. I did not catch Covid there, and knock on wood so far, I have not been exposed in Florida either. Many of my family and friends have had it and they have nothing to do with motorcycling or crowds. The news has been reporting particularly on Facebook the Covid was a super spreader at Sturgis. FAKE NEWS!!! See the press release explaining the real statistics. Countless cities have cancelled events or limited them due to this fake bull crap!

The San Diego State University IZA study regarding the COVID-19 cases resulting from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is blatantly faulty. The study concludes that nearly 20% of the COVID- 19 cases reported in America from August 2 to September 2 are due to the event. This outrageous conclusion is antithetical to actual case data as numerous State Officials across the United States have been actively seeking to tie any COVID-19 case to the event. Despite these active efforts, fewer than 300 cases have been identified nationwide. The careless ease with which mainstream media outlets have published a report that multiplies that factual data by 1,000 is shameful. The absolute preposterousness of the conclusion is further demonstrated by the results of the community-wide mass testing which occurred after the event, where there were 26 positives cases out of 650 patients tested.

The City of Sturgis holds those affected by COVID-19 in our thoughts and prayers as the virus continues to impact our nation and world. We recognize that individuals were exposed to the virus on their trip to, from, or while at the Rally, but the data reported by health officials across the nation show that the impact from the event was a mere fraction of what was projected and anticipated by many of the experts. The continued media focus on infection and the hope of increased transmission rates and death, following this event are reminiscent of the models that told us that locally our hospitals would be overwhelmed, we would have a massive lack of ventilators, and 3-5% of us would not survive. Fortunately, as we have seen, the underlying assumptions of these

By Lulu

Challenges in life are to be conquered. Victories in life are to be celebrated. So, when Diesel decided to enter the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge he set his mind to be victorious. Diesel (Dustin Arledge) is a personable 33-year-old originally from Laurelville, Ohio. He started riding motorcycles as early as age 3! When asked how old he was when he got his first bike, he quickly answered my Dad got a bike “for all us boys” when I was about 8 and the three brothers shared it. In February 2007 Diesel joined the Marines and did a tour in Afghanistan where he suffered multiple concussions from explosions finally resulting in brain injuries that caused him to be medically retired. He took the photography session with Honoring Our Veterans and later used his GI bill to get a AS degree in photography which he uses as a release. “Honoring Our Veterans” mission is to improve the quality of life for combat wounded veterans by offering them activities that strengthen their physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning. This organization helped not only Diesel, but also his friends Beetle and Smuggler’s wife which made him choose to raise funds for them when he decided to ride the Hoka Hey. This was a way for Diesel to give back.

The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is a 10,000-mile challenge to test the fortitude and determination of the rider. The Lakota Sioux of Wolakota celebrates all that is pure and powerful in the warrior spirit by this event, which is presented by the Medicine Show LLC. The 100 new riders and any previous riders pay $500 to register for the torturous ride. No cash award is given. A trophy is presented to the winner which they hold for two years. The motorcycle challenge takes place every two years. 2020 started and ended in Panama City Beach, Florida. This year for the first time a pandemic has affected others coming into the country to do the challenge. The route took riders through 31 states with directions to check points along the way. Diesel started in the first group of 25 and finished in 10 days and 3 minutes! The actual mileage this year was 9,661. To make that distance in the 10 days Diesel traveled 1500 miles in the 1st 24 hours, sleeping only 2 hours on the ground by his bike. After day 3 he hit that wall of wondering why in the hell he was doing this, but after getting more rest (4 hours instead of 2) he got a second wind and was more determined to not only finish but to WIN. He led most of the 10 days, although with some bike problems, including new tires and brakes in Vermont, blowing the left rear shock, needing to use brake cleaner to clean the air filter and being lost a time or two he lost some of the 3-5 hour lead he had established early on. One rider did pass him on the last day, so he was not positive that he had won until later that day when he learned he was back in the lead.

This is not only a physical and mental challenge; it is a challenge with risks. On the second day rider, Todd Moreland #909, died on the challenge this year. Another rider hit a deer and broke his leg. The second-place rider arrived at the finish two hours behind Diesel. Another part of the challenge is to raise money for the charity of your choice. I mentioned earlier that Diesel chose Honoring Our Veterans to ride for, he was able to raise $7,355 in sponsorship dollars. Diesel set lofty goals, then went for them as a warrior (or Marine) would. Depriving himself of sleep and a bed when he did sleep, enduring miles and miles of road weariness, thirst, hunger, dealing with frustration of accidents, closed bridges, bike problems and just mental fatigue…he pushed through it all. Even more important to me is that he did not neglect the importance of the charity aspect of the challenge. To raise thousands of dollars during a pandemic is remarkable. Job well done Diesel. I know he would like me to thank his sponsors Legend Suspensions, Heise LED Lighting, Bad Apple Orchard, The Original First Turn, Iron Axe, Ormond Brewing Company, McKenna’s Place, Tailgatorz Sports Bar, Dan Newlin, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley Davidson, Destination 4X4s, More Altman’s Cooling & Heating, Street Thunder, Inc., Gunner’s Cave, OnlineLabels.com, Curly’s Barber Shop and East Side Tattoo. All of which in one way or another helped Diesel with his challenge. A special thank you to Bad Apple Orchard for creating a second trophy as Diesel will have to return the one, he holds until the next challenge in 2022, when once again Diesel will ride to win! If you would like to donate to Honoring Our Vets, you can go to PayPal.me/Diesel171 or directly to HonoringVets.org

By Lulu

When the highway doesn’t pull us to other parts of the state or country, we love to ride with our friends we have accumulated over the past two years on Tony’s from The Boat Bar in Port Orange monthly Mystery Ride. You should try to ride on one of these it is always a great adventure on two and three wheels. During football season it changes from a Sunday ride to Saturday. We generally ride out about 11am after paying $5 for our wrist band for the 50/50 and food at the end of the ride. This ride took us to Foxhead’s in Osteen, and then to two new locations to me. I had never been to The Black Hammock Marina in Black Hammock. A wonderful outside waterfront area complete with gators for petting and parrots, is now adding a new elevated inside bar. The restaurant has one of the best jalapeno burgers I have ever put in my mouth. One of our riders suffered a bad laceration to her leg which I am sparing you the photo of (although you can see extra pics on our Facebook page from the day). She somehow cut it badly on a set of fishtail pipes. Ouch!!! Our next stop was The Alibi a cool bar in Geneva. WE LOVE TO HAVE NEW PEOPLE JOIN OUR RIDES…next one is October 24th and where we will go is a MYSTERY!

By Lulu

On a beautiful day in July daring to gather motorcycling enthusiasts together in spite of Covid, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson put on a Street Glide Bike Show with classes that included; paint, sound, lights, pipes, Best in Show, Best Bagger, Best Wheel and a few more. One of our clients and friend, Karl from Volks Audio was in the show and was happy to go home with the Best in Show trophy for sound . We are featuring him as our Biking Business feature in this issue. By far his sound was loud and clean. Should be with 24 speakers!! Mandy and Shelley Rossmeyer were on hand to register the entries and for trophy presentation. Not to laugh at the wounded but watching Mandy push Shelley around in a wheelchair while wearing a walking boot made for a chuckle or two. Mandy hurt a leg while dirt biking and Shelley stepped off a boat and is awaiting surgical correction! Get well soon you two! Get into the showroom before September 5th, as they are giving 3 bikes away and no purchase is necessary to enter! More photos of the day are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook.

By Jan Wideman

Saturday, July 18th Gator Harley-Davidson celebrated 27 amazing years in business. During the party we held a Tattoo Contest. Binx, owner of Style and Grace Modern Electric Tattooing Leesburg sponsored the Men’s and Ladies tattoo contest. With Binx, John Malik, Jr and Keith (Slapshot) Totten assisted with the judging. Binx gave the 1st place winners, both men’s and ladies a $100 gift certificate to Style & Grace. Gator H-D gave to the 2nd place winners a $50 GHD gift card and the 3rd place winners received a $25 GHD gift card. The judges had their work cut out for them as each contestant had amazing tattoos with interesting stories behind them. They were judged on: *Quality *Originality *Artwork * Over All Layout.

The winners in the men’s division were 1st Place-Stephen Malmrose 2nd Place-Tony Vick and 3rd Place-Shawn Fitzpatrick. The winners in the ladies’ division were 1st Place-Nellie Elizondo 2nd Place-Ellen Winans and 3rd Place-Robyn Stack. Congratulations to all the winners. Thank you to all the participants that entered the tattoo contest.

The Malik family opened Gator Harley-Davidson 27 years ago right down the road in a small shop. John Malik Jr. thanks all his customers, friends, and family for supporting them for the past 27 years. It was a great day at Gator Harley listening to Hypersona on the Fran Haasch Law Group stage, grabbing a bite to eat and enjoying an ice cold beverage from the Lake Co. Firefighters, visiting the vendors and checking out all the great stuff inside the Dealership. Customer Appreciation was a big hit inside with 20% off licensed product and aftermarket P&A. The sales staff welcomed 4 new Harley-Davidson owners also on Saturday.

A big Thank You goes to our Sponsors Fran Haasch Law Group and Budweiser for the Raffle Package we had for Josie McBride. We raised over the week and during the event $1521.00 in ticket sales for the raffle and another $145.00 in cash donations not to mention (2) checks in the amount of $400 as donations.

Marg was inside sewing away, patch after patch and altering leathers for folks.

Congratulations to Kelly Montgomery for winning the 50/50 and giving it back to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. A big congratulations to Michele Gentles for winning the Raffle Package which included a kick ass cooler and beach chairs.

Thank you to each and every one of you for coming out and celebrating our Anniversary with us.

I received a nasty message from an old friend I have known over 40 years chastising my selfish, risky behavior for attending the 80th Sturgis Bike Rally. Basically, she was telling me my behavior was suicidal if not homicidal and demanding I not visit our hometown of Pensacola potentially infecting and killing her family.

This is a dear friend who has had some risky viral behavior of her own in her past! Some will probably agree with her. In fact, there wasn’t much mask wearing in South Dakota. The crowds were down but still huge. I can’t really say social distancing was followed at concert venues either. But on a motorcycle, riding the Black Hills, you mostly are six feet from everyone, except Bison! I may come down with Covid from this wonderful time in the mountains. I might have come down with Covid from standing in line at the pharmacy before I left. We used hand sanitizer, wore masks where it was required, but we risked the disease and I will tell you why. Vendors are nearly broke from all the cancelled events. The little town of Sturgis with its 7500 residents and the surrounding small-town USA spots are accustomed to the rallies boost to their income.

The state of South Dakota weighed the risk. We weighed the risk. We suffered the 3-day truck ride. We got on our dangerous two wheeled transport and rode those twisties looking down steep cliffs knowing less experienced riders could take us out at any minute. We came face to face with bison, and in fact one lady who weighed the risk, even though signs posted told her not to, suffered the insult of being knocked out (unconscious) and knocked out of her pants for her bad decision of getting off her bike and approaching a baby bison. We all suffer consequences of our choices in life. My choice was simple. Live life as if there is no tomorrow. If I die of a bike wreck so be it. If I die of a bison attack so be it. If I die of Covid so be it. If you are afraid of normal living stay home, wear a mask, goggles, and gloves, don’t eat out, ask for an absentee ballot, and use hand sanitizer. If all that works you won’t have to fear me or my bad choices. In the end something will kill us, that is just a fact. But if going to one of the most spectacular places on Earth for a trip of a lifetime or standing in line at my local Wal-Mart are my choices…I am choosing the trip!

Get on your bike and find a new highway, use your hand sanitizer, and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

When I first started bike riding, I loved the sound of the bike, it was almost the sound of a horse’s trot. Then Bull upgraded his stroked-out Heritage to an Ultra Classic complete with a sound system. We would ride all over the country listening to his CD’s mostly cut by biker bands he knew from somewhere USA. Fast forward 15 years, now there are sound contests and systems that blow your skirt up, like Marilyn over the sidewalk grate. The first time I experienced that heart hurting booming sound coming from a bike was at the Casa Marina in Key West. A sound off by the Cartel Baggers was going on poolside and one of the competitors cracked his fiberglass from the extreme sound. Now people are seeking out sound experts to make their rides competition worthy.

Karl Biancardi has been tinkering with sound since his childhood. Even as a teen he DJ’d and made mixes for his school. At 18 he rented an office for $220 a month and had his first enterprise known as Stereo, Electronics and Gold Exchange in Deltona, Florida. Since 1989 he has had a business known as Volks Audio. Taking some time away from that, Karl spent 15 years in the bar business in the Deland area with JR’s Saloon, H2 Bar, Buck Wild Bar & Grill and H3 Envy. While trying his hand in nightclubs…music and sound was still a big part of it.

Finally deciding he had enough of the bar owner life, Karl went back to what he loves most SOUND. His business based out of Orange City installs and creates custom sound systems for cars, boats, homes, and motorcycles. We were at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson when he took first place for sound with his green Street Glide’s system. This bike has 24 speakers and delivers what he promises; loud sound “clean as a whistle”. The systems he installs on a bike can run from $1,500 to $30,000 and can take from 1 week to 1 month to install. Karl carries PRV Audio, SOUNDDIGITAL, LimiTless Battery and Voodoo Bags. His business has grown so quickly that he is in the process of moving to his new larger facility still in the Orange City area. Every show he enters he get bikes or boats from people hearing how clean the music from his sound system is.

If you are thinking of creating a customized sound system for your bike call Karl at 386-804-2979.

By Ron Cox

Three hundred fifty-seven riders and passengers assembled at Stu’s Motorcycles in south Ft. Myers to participate in a Memorial Ride for Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission Officer Julian Keen who lost his life serving the community.

Early and on-line pre-registrations indicated this would be a monster ride and the columns of motorcycles reached down the side of the dealership and wrapped around it almost completely. A tip of the cap should go to the Motor Officers of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for safely escorting the riders on the 100-mile route.

Wildlife Officer Keen was shot and killed in LaBelle when he attempted to stop a hit-and-run suspect while off duty. It would be a gross understatement to say how much the LaBelle community loved and admired this man.

Hendry County deputies located Officer Keen’s body after responding to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Nobles Road and Apache Circle. Keen’s alleged killer is in custody trying to make bail. Thirty-year-old Keen had served with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for six years.

Upon returning to Stu’s there were hot dogs and burgers on hand along with some ice-cold beverages. A different wrinkle to a biker event was the axe throwing demonstration with the opportunity to try your hand at it yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On a lighter note, some lovely ladies were willing to wash your ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All proceeds from today’s event ($9,000+) will go to the Julian Keen Memorial Scholarship. The Scholarship benefits youth pursuing a criminal justice degree or a career in law enforcement.

By Tony and T-Rex

On the Schoon *lazy* river in Chestertown we checked in with Tina at The Rancho Pines Campground. She’s owned this for 24 years but was established back around 1928 so it’s old…with tall pines all over. Set up camp then it’s time to explore, first stop T-Rex wants to see Lake George. There was no Americade this year so that hurt business here. Half the tourists are back, and no traffic going in or out of town. We are on the Eastern side of the mountains, so we rode up to Lake Placid and Saranac Lake.

Then I took T-Rex up to one of the oldest bars, restaurant, boarding house, and train station in Lake Clear Junction. The Charlie’s Inn established a little before 1901 was the main railway from Utica to Malone. It’s not running anymore but the buildings are still standing, so lunch and a beer and we were off.

From there we ran Route 30 to 28 N. It runs you into a small, ok…very, small town of Minerva, where we slid into Sporty’s Iron Duke Saloon, another cool place in the middle of nowhere. Cabins for rent, a bar and food they even put on a motorcycle hill climb. A week of riding in the mountains great weather, mountain roads twisting through the big pines and lakes and rivers galore…off to Vermont we go. Stay cool Tony @T-Rex.

By Tony and T-Rex

The first stop on this trip is Berwick, PA where we’re gonna hang out at the Bodnarosa Campground. T-Rex wants to see family and friends for a week, and I want to ride twisting mountain roads. But we also want to go see “Bill’s Old Bike Barn and Museum”. The owner is Bill Morris and he owns Bill’s Custom Cycle for the last 51 years, so you guessed it he is 81 years old and still working every day. On the weekends he is the first guy you meet at the museum. This museum isn’t just a bunch of old bikes. It is a collection of everything from Rock’em Sock’em Robots to an Elvis room, and of course, the name of this town is “Billville”. Between the old Berwick Hotel sign and the store made of beer cans, I could write pages about the 55,000 sq. ft. museum, but if you are ever riding in the mountains in PA stop in and check it out. It’s located right behind Bill’s Custom Cycles at 7145 Route 11, Columbia Blvd, Bloomsburg, PA. Ok off to our next stop in Damascus, NY more mountains and cool breeze…                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Stay cool Tony and T-Rex

I had the most amazing day on the 4th of July. First off, we went with Karl from Volk’s Audio on his boat to “The Glen”. The ride on the St. John’s River was beautiful and thankfully my fear of Karl being a speed demon was unfounded! The most awesome sight was as we pulled into the glen it seemed as though we floated into a Trump rally. Trump and American flags flying everywhere. Red, white, and blue bikinis everywhere. Watching the polls and some news channels it was becoming very depressing. If I heard one more time “defund the police”, “our goal is no more cops in 5 years” and “no life sentences” I was going to start believing America was doomed. But seeing the patriotic Americans out enjoying a day on the river gave me a much-needed boost. A perfect day with amazing food cooked by Karl on his grill and an invigorating swim to the mouth of the spring recreated the energy for life. I still am worried that Biden may win, that we are headed off a cliff of anarchy and that most of America has lost their belief in our Constitution and love for our country. But I left that river on the 4th knowing we patriotic Americans are still out there and that we MUST not let those beating their chests like gorillas control our future. And if you think that was racist you are part of the problem. When the noose was found in a NASCAR garage the focus was on the “crime of the noose” not the fact that the REDNECK GOOD OL’ BOYS in UNISON supported Bubba. That should have been the news story, not a garage door pull!!!
Anyway, we who enjoy the freedom of motorcycling need to show our patriotism a little more this year. Ride on veteran and police rides, fly a flag on your bike or wear a patriotic shirt or hat. I joined a group called Adopt-A-Cop…you just send a note of encouragement to a police officer thanking them for putting up with us all and doing a difficult job in a difficult time! I know it doesn’t sound like much, but the police seem to appreciate hearing something positive.
Take a ride on a road you haven’t traveled, buy a cop a meal and don’t forget your sunscreen!